Moran’s Greatest Hits!

A collection of the most interesting statements and actions (“Morantics”) of our favorite congressman.

Moran blames the Iraq War on Jews

Two and a half weeks before American and international forces invaded Iraq in March 2003 to oust dictator Saddam Hussein, Jim Moran told an audience of anti-war constituents in Reston, VA that “If it were not for the strong support of the Jewish community for this war with Iraq, we would not be doing this. The leaders of the Jewish community are influential enough that they could change the direction of where this is going, and I think they should.”

Moran came under heavy fire for the despicable comment.

The Jewish Community Council of Washington (JCC) wrote a letter to Moran saying, “The Jewish community is deeply offended…Besides being patently untrue and foolish, your poisonous remarks are reminiscent of age-old vicious canards that have been hurled against Jews for generations.”

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), who is Jewish, said the comments were “deeply offensive and morally wrong.”

Six Jewish Democratic members of Congress said in a joint letter that they would not support Moran’s 2004 re-election bid, calling the statement “grossly irresponsible.” Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), who is also Jewish, said the remarks were bigoted.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), who was House Minority Leader at the time, issued a statement saying, “Congressman Moran’s comments were not only inappropriate, they were offensive…His comments have no place in the Democratic Party.” He was also condemned by Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD), then-Senate Minority Leader, who said they were “unfounded, baseless, and way out of line.”

Moran’s campaign pollster accused Moran of using other anti-Semitic language, and Moran’s denial of doing so led to the pollster’s resignation.

Moran tried to apologize after coming under fire, but it didn’t satisfy anyone. Ronald Halber, executive director of the JCC, called his apology “woefully inadequate” and called for him to resign, as did many others.

Then-Gov. Mark Warner (D) said, “Perhaps Congressman Moran should remember that the first thing you do when you find yourself in a hole is to quit digging.”

Moran stepped down from his leadership position as a House Democratic regional whip.

In 2004, Moran’s campaign distributed 40,000 copies of the Falls-Church News Press‘s endorsement of Moran. In their endorsement editorial, the newspaper wrote, “This election is not about Moran’s ability to lead, or about news headlines accusing him of questionable public statements or personal finances. It’s about a cabal of powerful Washington-based interests backing the Bush administration’s support for right-wing Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon’s handling of the Middle East conflict trying to upend an outspoken and powerful Democratic opponent.”

Moran’s distribution of such “hate literature” (as described by the American Jewish Committee’s Washington director David Bernstein) brought a new round of condemnations from the Jewish community.

You would think that, after being condemned not only by Republicans but all the Democratic leaders, Moran would have learned his lesson. But in 2007, Moran blamed the war on the Jews AGAIN!

In an interview with Tikkun magazine, Moran said the American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is “the most powerful lobby and has pushed this war from the beginning. I don’t think they represent the mainstream of American Jewish thinking at all, but because they are so well organized, and their members are extraordinarily powerful — most of them quite wealthy — they have been able to exert power.”

He also said that AIPAC and its supporters believe “that if you have people who are hostile toward you, it’s okay to kill them, rather than talk to them.”

The Jewish community was again deeply angered. Sixteen Jewish House Democrats signed a “blistering” joint letter to Moran, saying the comments were “irresponsible and have absolutely no basis in fact…The idea that the war in Iraq began because of the influence of Jewish Americans is factually incorrect and unfortunately fits the anti-Semitic stereotypes some have used historically against Jews.”

“As Jewish colleagues, we don’t understand your hostility to AIPAC or your determination to embarrass yourself with this series of inaccurate, illogical, and inflammatory comments,” the letter said. “But we find them deeply offensive and call on you to retract your statements. They have no place in the House Democratic Caucus.”

The letter was signed by such prominent Democrats as Henry Waxman, Rahm Emanuel, and Barney Frank, among others. Waxman, who organized the letter, said, “if I lived in his district, I wouldn’t vote for him.”

Halber said, “He uses several age-old canards that have been used throughout history that have brought violence upon Jews. He uses clearly anti-Semitic images such as Jewish control of the media and wealthy Jews using their wealth to control policy.”

In 2001, Moran said in an appearance before the American Muslim Council that then-Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was coming to Washington “probably seeking a warrant from President Bush to kill at will with weapons we have paid for.”

In April 2000, Jim Moran accused a black eight-year-old boy at a recreational center parking lot of trying to take his car keys and of threatening to shoot him and steal his campaign-subsidized car (since he apparently couldn’t afford his own despite the $141,300 congressional salary for 2000-2001 he received, not to mention the lifetime health benefits Congress has given itself).

According to the boy’s parents, the boy was merely admiring Moran’s car, a 1999 Toyota Avalon, and told him he liked it. The boy told the Washington Times, “He choked me and then cussed at me. I thought he was going to kidnap or kill me…All I told him was that I liked his car.” Moran responded, “It’s all lies.”

Several witnesses reported seeing a “beet-red” Moran yelling and cursing at the boy as he escorted him into the recreational center.

The boy’s mother said he was a straight-A student at school. His mom filed an official complaint against Moran. Moran responded by criticizing the mom’s parenting: “I had hoped that this boy would learn that this is not acceptable behavior…But if the parents are not going to teach him that this is not acceptable behavior, then maybe the courts will.”

The episode became national news, with NBC’s Today show picking up the story. Moran was accused of racial profiling.

Moran said, “I just wanted to hug him. I wish I could adopt a child like him.”

Considering Moran’s history of temper tantrums, the 8-year-old should probably get the benefit-of-the-doubt.

At a 2009 rally, in reference to the Virginia Republican ticket of Bob McDonnell, Bill Bolling, and Ken Cuccinelli, Moran said, “I mean, if the Republicans were running in Afghanistan, they’d be running on the Taliban ticket as far as I can see.”

In 2006, Moran was talking about the Democrats’ chances of taking the House in 2006 (which they did) when he exclaimed, “When I become chairman [of a House appropriations subcommittee], I’m going to earmark the sh*t out of it.”

Moran’s financial disclosures showed in 2004 that he had lost nearly $320,000 in the stock markets as of that time. His financial disclosures also showed that he had as much as $165,000 in debt. When asked how he planned to pay off his debts, he responded, “I have no plans.” Priceless.

A 2010 Washington Post article exposed Moran’s bizarre and risky trading, showing he had made over 500 options trades, worth up to $3 million in all. After Moran lost about $120,000 in two years, court filings from Moran’s 1999 divorce said that Moran had a history of “wasting the family assets on his stock market gambling.”

Mr. Moran, if you can’t control your own finances, why in the world should we trust you to control our tax dollars?!?!!

In 2003, Moran, who is a Roman Catholic, “went ballistic” (as one parishoner put it) at Rev. Michael Dobbins at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Alexandria, VA.

Two days before Election Day 2003, Moran took then-Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine and non-Catholic Mayor of Alexandria Bill Euille, to church to “shake a few hands”.

Moran reportedly requested that Euille be recognized during the Mass, which the parish refused.

Rev. Bryan Belli gave a pro-life sermon which criticized Catholic politicians who ignore Catholic teachings, with two prominent pro-choice Catholics seated in front of him.

(Moran’s spokesman said later that it was “unethical” and “possibly illegal” for the priest to go after pro-choice politicians in his sermon. Honest people may disagree on this issue, but trying to silence the people who disagree with you is not any way to find common ground. So much for civility.)

Fr. Dobbins responded by saying, “How can you reconcile yourself as a Catholic with your views on abortion?”

Fr. Dobbins went on to say, “Congressman, put away the talking points. Talk to me as your priest.” Moran responded that there was “not enough time” for the two to discuss all Moran’s problems with the Church.

“Congressman, one day you will need me,” the priest said. “And I will be here.”

In 2000, following a reaffirmation of the Catholic Church’s teaching on homosexuality (that homosexuals are persons to be treated with dignity and respect and are called to chastity) by Pope John Paul II, Moran said on the House floor: “Having been educated in Catholic schools my whole life…if I were a gay man, I would feel the same sense of frustration and disappointment that Councilman Jim Graham expressed on the D.C. Council. And that disappointment, and the intolerance, and yes, the hypocrisy of the Catholic Church as an institution towards homosexuality ought to be addressed.”

Moran’s press secretary changed the wording of the statement in the Congressional Record, the official transcript of all proceedings in the U.S. Congress, which is strictly forbidden by House rules. The secretary defended himself by saying it “happens all the time.” The Committee on the House Administration went after Moran’s office, forcing them to change the record back to the real wording.

Moran’s remarks were condemned in a joint statement by Bishop Paul Loverde of the Diocese of Arlington (which comprises over 400,000 Catholics in 21 counties in Virginia) and then-Auxiliary Bishop William Lori of the Archdiocese of Washington (now bishop of Bridgeport, Connecticut).

“Americans of all religious faiths and political persuasions should be profoundly disturbed over Rep. James Moran’s harsh remarks which were directed against the teachings of the Catholic Church on the floor of the House of Representatives,” the statement read. “It is not the role of lawmakers to be arbiters of religious doctrine. It is especially not their role to single out a particular religious faith, their own or someone else’s, for criticism while debating public policy,” it continued. “We call upon Rep. Moran to be conscious of his duty as a lawmaker not to engage in hostile rhetoric against any religious faith, even if he personally disagrees with its beliefs.”

As mayor of Alexandria, Moran got into a bar fight in 1988. Jay Armington, who was involved in the incident, said, “He and another guy went from arguing to shouting to fists in just a few minutes. One of my buddies pulled the other guy away and I grabbed the mayor.” Moran wheeled around and slammed him against the bar. “His cheeks were bulging and he was snorting like a bull,” Armington said. “I realized I was looking into the eyes of a madman.”

Arne Wilkens tended the bar while Moran was mayor from 1985-1990 and says Moran frequently got into fights there. “He was a bully and a thug,” Wilkens said. “We’d call the cops, but they wouldn’t do anything.”

Johnathan Schnapp, a former Alexandria resident, said he tried to file a criminal complaint against Mayor Moran after Moran threatened him following an argument at outside a city council meeting, but the police wouldn’t do anything to the mayor.

Several Alexandria police officers have admitted privately that if Moran was an “ordinary citizen”, his behavior would have led to arrests. “The mayor was clearly guilty of assault on one occasion,” one officer said, speaking anonymously out of fear for his job. “But the word came down. The mayor was off limits. Ordinary citizens go to jail. But not the mayor.”

In 1999, police were called to Moran’s residence by his wife Mary of 11 years who said he was attacking her. The police came, talked to both of them, and left. Mary Moran filed for divorce shortly thereafter, saying Moran abused her.

According to the Almanac of American Politics, “He jousted — literally — with … Republicans, shoving Californian Duke Cunningham off the floor and out of the House chamber doors in 1995 after Cunningham said that Moran had ‘turned his back on Desert Storm.'” He had asked Cunningham to step outside. Cunningham hesitated, then moved towards the double door on the Republican side of the House chamber. Moran shoved Cunningham from behind with one hand and then two. The incident also involved Reps. Bob Dornan (R-CA) and George Miller (D-CA). More than a dozen police officers had to break them up.

In 2003, Moran received $11,450 in campaign contributions from three officers of Muslim organizations that were raided by federal agents in an investigation of terrorism financing. Moran originally refused to return them, but eventually did.

In October 2010, RetireJimMoran.com broke the story of Jim Moran making outrageous remarks at a Arlington County Democratic Committee meeting. Moran said his 2010 opponent, a retired U.S. Army colonel who served in the military for 24 years in four different warzones, hadn’t “served or performed any kind of public service.” National outrage was sparked and numerous media outlets across the country picked up the story. Read about the remarks, the fallout, and the media coverage.

Feel free to share your thoughts on these stories by commenting below!

Like this:

LikeLoading...

11 responses to “Moran’s Greatest Hits!”

As a former resident of Alexandria, then City Councilmen James Moron, called a fellow Councilmen outside. As soon as they had departed City Hall, in the back alley, Moron punched the other City Councilman to the ground. When the reporters heard of this Moron proudly stated that he was a golden gloves boxer! Moron has always punched and yelled his way out of an argument. I hate bullies and he is a classic! BTW he had that 8 year old child by the ear and was dragging him into the recreation center. He is such a Moron, James that is!

This is typical partisan spin. I’m no fan of Moran’s, but read this page out of curiosity. Full of spin, its all carefully engineered to convince those who do not know the facts that Moran should be ousted- regardless of the facts behind his career. One example was where Moran criticized the church for its open condemnation of the DNC in a sermon. Here is how this website put it, verbatim:

(Moran’s spokesman said later that it was “unethical” and “possibly illegal” for the priest to attack the Democratic Party’s pro-choice platform in his sermon. So much for freedom of speech and religion.)

What do you guys mean “so much for the 1st amendment”? This is a TAX CODE violation, as tax-exempt organizations like churches have restrictions on lobbying and political campaign involvement. Here is a link to the IRS website explaining it in clear and simple English

If you guys spun that story so much just to make a cheap political point, what else did you skew? No one should rely on this website for any kind of information. Whether or not you like Jim Moran as a politician (I myself don’t care for him either), websites like these are just character assassinations and represent how low our political dialogue has sunk in this country.

I was there and you could not be farther off base. A priest saying that his party had left him because of its stance on abortion is not a tax code violation. Perhaps the tax code violation occured when Jim Moran and Tim Kaine brought a non-Catholic to mass in a church they didn’t attend to use it as a campaign opportunity?
I was there, I heard the homily, the homily was on pro-life concerns. “Life” is not political regardless of how your type wants to define it. I would also suggest that the far left refrain from attempting to shut down religious speech in a Chruch because you are so attached to your Louis Farrakans, Reverand Wrights, Jesse Jacksons, and Al Sharptons.
Moran attacked the priests for not ALLOWING him and Tim Kaine to stand up during a mass and campaign–which would have been an actual violation. After mass, Moran became heated, red-faced and loud when a different priest asked him to please try to reconcile his votes with his religion. Later,
Moran’s office attempted to spin Fr Belli’s homily into something it was not and then say the same priest “bothered” him after mass (while he was campaigning). His office contacted Ed Henry, then on Roll Call and now a CNN correspondent. When he started running into inconsistencies in Moran’s story he had to further investigate. Moran’s office had lied even about the concrete events. When Ed went back to Moran’s spin machine to get further comment, Moran’s office only wanted to know WHO had corrected the record–presumably to attack them. However, when dealing with Moran, everybody in Alexandria knows to be careful and afraid. He is violent, dispicable man.

If religious organizations have “restrictions on lobbying and political campaign involvement” how do you explain the fact that the only privately owned building within the Capitol Complex is the United Methodist Building? Pelosi personally thanked the UMC on the floor of the House the day the health care bill was passed. As long as a tax-exempt organization spends less than 25% of its budget on “political advocacy” it can involve itself in the political sphere all it wants. And it wants.

What I find admirable is his consistent support for minorities, women, and the oppressed (Palestinians, animals, e.g.). Character is important but issues are too. This website is just focused on character assassination which is distasteful and not helpful in promoting a civil environment for a healthy debate about policies, values, and vision.

Perhaps you would be interested in doing a web search using Jim Moran and the word “anti-semetic”. You will then be corrected in your assumption that Jim Moran consistently supports minorities. You can also do some research in to Moran and “wife-beating”, you will then learn something about Moran’s “support” of women.
This web site is not assasinating Jim Moran’s character. His has been dead for many years or he never had one at all. You will note that many democrats will have signs that list the democrats on the ticket, yet they tape over Moran’s name. Why do you think that is so?

Michael, you should know that when the marxists realized that they could not overtake the world with only their “workers as victims” to fuel revolution, they incorporated other groups to exploit, e.g., minorities, animals, mother earth. Please check into this; you will find a history and pattern of the exploitation which you currently view as positive. It is actually the opposite, as it is insincere and just more deceit from Moran and others.

let your hearts not be troubled…for that red faced ignorant bully & thief of our tax money will properly be voted out of office. And if I ever run into his democrat ass a thorough ass whipping shall be delivered.

I feel so disgusted when I receive emails from Jim Moran, inviting me to a woman’s conference he is holding and yet, his private background is anything but in favor of a woman. From news articles over the years it appears that he mistreated his ex-wife and any “girl friend” that was stupid enough to put up with his behavior. Any man that can’t afford to buy himself a car but has to use political donations to have a car certainly shouldn’t be representing citizens in Congress. Now I learn he doesn’t even live in the 8th district. How did he get money to move to McLean? The citizen taxpayer certainly deserve better.